A lumber calculator helps you estimate how much wood you need for a project by calculating board feet, linear feet, and total cost based on dimensions and quantities. This free lumber estimator turns your cut list into a waste-aware material list so you can price a project before you buy lumber.
Add one row for each part you need to make. Duplicate parts can share one line item by increasing quantity.
Length Unit
Use descriptive names like leg, rail, panel, or frame member so the export is easy to read later.
Linear feet
0.00
Total length across all duplicate pieces.
Board feet
0.00
Enter every field to calculate this line item.
Est. buy cost
Add price
Cost uses the waste-adjusted board-foot total.
Waste factor: 10% | Length unit: feet
Every row rolls into a printable and exportable lumber list.
| Piece | Dimensions | Qty | Linear ft | Board ft | Buy bf | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piece 1 | - x - x - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Totals | 0 complete lines | 1 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | Add price |
Buy bf uses your selected waste factor. Estimated cost is based on the waste-adjusted board-foot total, which is closer to what you actually need to purchase.
Use these steps to turn a rough cut list into a better lumber-yard shopping plan.
Switch between inches and feet for board length. Width and thickness stay in inches, matching how most lumber is sold.
Enter a label, length, width, thickness, and quantity for each part in your project so the calculator can total everything correctly.
Adjust the waste factor between 5% and 20%, then add your price per board foot to estimate what you will actually buy.
Use the summary table to check board feet, linear feet, and cost for each line item, then print or export the list for the lumber yard.
Common questions about estimating lumber, project waste, and pricing hardwood for a build.
A 10% waste factor is a solid default for many woodworking projects. If your design has a lot of defects to cut around, angled parts, milling, or grain matching, 15% to 20% is safer.
Board feet measures lumber volume, so it includes thickness and width. Linear feet measures total length only. You can have the same linear footage in two boards that have very different board-foot totals if one board is wider or thicker.
Hardwoods are often priced by the board foot, while dimensional lumber at home centers is often priced by the piece. This calculator uses price per board foot because that is the most common way hardwood material is quoted.
Use the dimensions that match how the wood will be purchased. If your lumber yard sells rough boards, estimate with rough thickness and add enough waste for milling. If you are buying surfaced boards, use the surfaced dimensions on the rack.
Yes. Add one row for each unique part in your project and set the quantity for duplicates. The summary table gives you a project-wide material list with totals, waste, and estimated cost.